Chiang Mai, the center of the North

ℹ️ Top Things to Do in Chiang Mai

Explore the Old Town

Chiang Mai’s Old Town is surrounded by walls and a water moat. This is the most touristy and bustle area of ​​the city, perfect to spend a morning exploring it on foot, by bike or by motorcycle. Here you will see many temples. The most famous ones that you should not forget to stop are the Wat Phra Sing, built in 1345, and the Wat Chedi Luang. You can get an idea of ​​what the walls that protected Chiang Mai were like, by visiting the eastern entrance of the historic area, Tha Pae Gate. If you like markets, on Sundays, starting at 6:00 p.m., you can visit the night market where, walking through it you will find a wide variety of souvenirs and very delicious local food.

Lively Night markets

Every Sunday, the main street in the historic center of Chiang Mai, Ratchadamnoen, is closed to vehicle traffic and turns into a huge and colorful street market, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in all of Southeast Asia! There are hundreds of stalls selling all kinds of products, including clothing, crafts and lots of food. On the other hand, on Saturdays you can find a more local atmosphere night market on Wua Lai Street, which starts right where the southern end of Old Town ends. If your visit does not coincide with the weekend, you can visit the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, located to the east of the historic area.

Go up to Doi Suthep Mount

 Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Temple, located in the Doi Suthep Mount. It’s still an active monastery and it is the most revered temple in the province and one of the most important in northern Thailand. If you want to explore deeply the mountain, we suggest you to reach Ban Kun Chang Kian village in Doi Pui. It’s quite an interesting Hmong tribe village. Be careful not to confuse it with the more touristy town of Ban Doi Pui. Apart from the typical excursions, you can also rent mountain bikes to go down the slopes of the mountain.

Pay a visit to the local markets

Visit these markets and get a feel for local life in Chiang Mai. The Waraot Market – also called Kat Luang (Big Market) – is the oldest and most important market in Chiang Mai, and it is located at the east of the old town, along the Ping River, on Chang Moi Street, just a couple of minutes away, walking from the Night Bazaar. Wararot market opens something before sunrise, and stays open until around 6pm. Next to it is the Talat Tonlamyai market, the main flower market of Chiang mai. Among the great variety of Flowers on offer highlight the cool climate varieties grown in the mountains of the Northern Thailand. The market is open 24 hours a day.

Have fun learning a new skill

Thai cuisine or language, Buddhism, Thai massage or Muay thai, Chiang Mai is an excellent place to learn. In Chiang Mai you will find schools of all kinds. You can take a Thai cooking course for one day or one morning, learn some Thai to enrich your trip or sign up for a Thai massage school (even you can get a  degree), although the latter will take longer. Chiang Mai and its surroundings are also famous for spiritual tourism, there are several temples to study Buddhism or do vipasana meditation, and for muay thai training camps. What a contrast, right?

Day tour to Mae Kampong

Mae Kampong is one of the most beautiful towns in Thailand. It’s located 1:15h to the East of Chiang Mai and there you will find plenty of small and cozy coffee shops, restaurants and boutique hotels. The village is also home of a small waterfall and a creek that crosses the town and creates a nice and cool atmosphere. Also, the world famous zip line Flight of The Gibbon is here. If you don’t have a private vehicle, you can get to Mae Kampong by public van from Warorot Market (300 THB return trip).

Get close to elephants

DO NOT RIDE THEM! The elephant is the national animal of Thailand and if you want to visit and experience being close to them Chiang Mai is the ideal place for it. You will find several sanctuaries in which they take care of elephants and they are not trained nor forced to do shows or be riden by tourist, allowing you to enjoy their company and learn from them. You don’t need to interact with them to enjoy the experience. Just by looking them doing their thing, you will have fun!

Enjoy some adventure

Chiang Mai is the capital of the adventure in Thailand. Here you will find plenty of offers to do trekking through small ethnic villages, white water rafting on the river, Quads through the forest, Zip Lines from banyan trees, mountain biking or any other mountain activity that you can imagine. It is worth doing some adventure activity in order to get close to the nature and enjoy the beauty of the landscapes, the jungle, the mountains and the rivers. Some of the best known areas for trekking are Samoeng, Mae Sa, Doi Inthanon and Ma Chaem.

Explore Doi Inthanon

It is one of the most important and beautiful national parks in Thailand, and a must visit if you go to Chiang Mai. Here you will find the highest point in the country (2565 m), magnificent temples and pagodas, impressive waterfalls and dreamlike vegetation. You will also find cooler temperatures than usual in the country. Entrance to the park costs THB 300 for adults and THB 100 for children. You can also sleep in bungalows for about 1000 Bat (€ 25) or camp for about 60-90 Bat (1.5-2 €).

🏨 Where to stay in Chiang Mai

Best Areas & Neighborhoods:

Chiang Mai is a rather small city when compared to other conurbation in Thailand, such as Bangkok or Phuket – and also cheaper than those metropolis. However, it is a town with many faces, and depending on where you want to stay, one neighborhood will accommodate you more than another. Each area has its appeal: proximity to the temples and attractions of historical interest, a rich nightlife, tranquility by the river or neighbourhoods that reveal its more elegant and sophisticated face. In all of them you will find affordable options for accommodation and a variety of places to eat for all budgets.

🧭 Itinerary to visit Chiang Mai

It can be done in one or two days: